How to Get Over Your Hangover in Time for Work

Sometimes a post-work cocktail turns into two. Or four. (It happens!) But since weekends shouldn't be the only time reserved for happy hour, we turned to author and nutritionistKimberly Snyder (whose celeb following includes Reese Witherspoon, Kate Mara, Drew Barrymore, and even Channing Tatum) for her genius diet and exercise-based tricks to help tackle every morning-after symptom that might roll your way...just in time for you to start your commute.

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Try a little aromatherapy: Dab a drop of lavender oil on your temples or behind your neck. Studies show that lavender can help you relax, and sometimes just calming down needs to be the very first step in your hangover recovery. Quell the panic attack about last night's drunk texts, and then you'll be able to focus and set your sights on your full-on Get Feeling Normal Again plan.

Start with hot water and fresh lemon: "Hot water with lemon is restorative to your liver tissue, which is your main fat-burning and detoxifying organ. It helps flush toxins from your cells, removing matter from your fat cells, helping to keep your detoxification processes functioning optimally."

Load up on potassium: "One option is coconut water, because it contains high levels of potassium and other electrolytes, which are depleted very aggressively as your body rapidly eliminates the alcohol. Bananas can be another great way to get potassium, B vitamins, and other minerals as well."

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Knock back a smoothie: "This is very different from a green juice, which has had the fiber stripped out. In contrast, a smoothie made with fresh fruit and vegetables is a whole food, with the fiber and juice intact—the way that nature grew them. It will supply you with tons of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and amino acids to build protein in the body (yes, greens have lots of protein, if you eat enough of them in a blended form!). The fiber content also keeps things moving through your body."

Pass on the omelet: "I am not a big advocate of having heavy amounts of fat or protein in the morning. Such foods may make you feel full (such as egg white omelets), but they also take a huge amount of digestive energy, and you may find yourself reaching for more energy from caffeinated beverages by mid-morning. So think fiber for movement and fullness over super heavy fat/protein. Of course, we all need fat and some concentrated protein, but these things can come later in the day."

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Hydrate: "If you had a bad night of sleep, the key is hydration. Drink lots of fresh water at room temperature, avoiding adding ice. It will hydrate your system better this way, and some experts believe that ice water can slow down your body's digestion, and especially fat metabolism."

Load up on antioxidants: "A smoothie is a great way to start the day on an up and get naturally energizing whole foods into your system." (Snyder recommends her famous Glowing Green Smoothie, which contains antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies like banana, pear, apple, and romaine lettuce.)

Avoid "hangover foods": "It's really important to not eat food that is too heavy on these days (though you might be tempted to), because you need your energy to be utilized for your brain function as well as all the other daily functions our bodies have to perform, and not focused downward into your belly and trying to digest whatever you just put in there."

Take a minute before checking your phone: "That way, you can have a clear space for a few minutes to meditate or be still before you get pulled in a million different directions right away from texts and emails that poured in through the night. Even if you have to wake up just a little bit earlier, this time of stillness will pay off in spades. You will be less reactive and more intuitive to what you need and authentically feel the rest of the day."

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Brew ginger tea: "To cope with the nausea, the best natural remedy is fresh ginger tea, as strong as you can tolerate."

Get a little salty: "A pinch of trace mineral-rich sea salt into your water or directly onto your tongue is known to calm your nerves and overall adrenal system, which get taxed when we drink too much."

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Drink up: "First, drink one to two glasses of water with lemon. This will not only hydrate you, but also flush toxins and help initiate the elimination process."

Do the twist: "Elimination is very important. If it doesn't happen automatically for you in the morning, drinking more water and doing some yoga poses—especially twists and bends that compress the midsection—will speed elimination (and hopefully help with a more complete evacuation) and reduce bloating."

Take a probiotic: "The SBO one I use is extra effective when it comes to bloating." (The healthy bacteria in probiotics help regulate digestion and keep things moving.)

Sip on some cranberry juice (not cocktail): "Mid-morning and throughout the afternoon, dilute some unsweetened cranberry concentrate into some water to sip on. As a powerful natural diuretic, it helps flush out any bloat related to water retention."

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Try yoga and/or meditation: "Starting the day off with that kind of inward reflection and 'me time' allows me to go through the rest of my day in a productive, creative, focused way. Balance poses specifically help hone your focus."

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Take that cold shower: "Hopping in a cold shower for two minutes helps activate fat burning and invigorates you in multiple ways."

Get moving: "Yoga twists are detoxifying and crucial for allowing more energy (on a physical, mental, and emotional level) to flow in, and backbends are also incredibly energizing. Beyond yoga, squats or lunges are particularly good because they activate the hips and glutes and aid with elimination. If you live someplace close to where you can hike, or even just do an uphill walk, that brings some powerful weight loss and cardiovascular benefits as well."